r/jobs 1d ago

Applications Why is this a question on a Target application???

Post image

anyone else think this is weird? i applied for the same position a month ago and this wasn't on there..

1.7k Upvotes

86 comments sorted by

644

u/the-library-fairy 22h ago

I've had questions on applications before about how I've contributed to inclusivity in my workplace or something, but usually for jobs with charities with a connection that made sense!  I think ticking N/A is sensible for this, shouldn't flag in either direction and given Target's current official DEI stance this feels like a trap to help them avoid potential 'troublemakers'.

141

u/Inevitable_Road_7636 20h ago

Yeah got asked that once actually for a IT role... I responded with "I invite anyone to send in questions or statements, including anonymously if need be, to make sure every has the chance to have their voice heard" cause I couldn't think of anything else off the cuff to say, and well anything that wasn't bad was better then silence.

I doubt that was the right answer, cause I didn't get the role but like wtf am I suppose to say to that as a rank and file employee, "I try to listen and understand everyone's point of view?". I am rank and file, and sometimes am expected to be in meetings with people, I have 0 decision making authority in the grand scheme of things.

47

u/tendaga 12h ago

I ensure all users can access it resources even if they use a Mac.

63

u/EkneeMeanie 17h ago

feels like a trap to help them avoid potential 'troublemakers'.

Most likely. Sadly anyone with a working brain could have figured and easier/less obvious way to ask that question.

1

u/arah91 55m ago

Depends , at my job (not US based) promoting diversity is considered a core trait, and where suppose to look for it in interviews as a plus. 

Though, since this is target and given their history they probably don't want that. 

356

u/Sisyphuss5MinBreak 23h ago

Target was one of the first companies to turn against DEI, sparking a boycott: https://edition.cnn.com/2025/02/19/business/target-dei-boycott/index.html

208

u/elonzucks 21h ago

They were loudly for DEI , then loudly against it. Worst of both worlds.

77

u/cupholdery 20h ago

Expect less, pay more.

81

u/Livid_Celery7622 19h ago

it’s bizarre to me because when i interviewed with target, i actually had an interview with the store manager who happened to be filling in for the department manager i was supposed to interview with and he probably talked for 8 minutes straight how in his 50 years with the company DEI was the best thing to happen to it and he was a huge fan. obviously that’s just one guy but still i wonder what he thinks about all this

1

u/Crazy_J_Santa_Cruz 32m ago

When shoppers stop shopping in your store because every corner you turn, there are rainbows or LBGTQXYZ everywhere, and it grossly affects the bottom line, they tend to change course.

146

u/Investigator516 21h ago

Not an appropriate question. Just put N/A

48

u/AmishDoinkzz 21h ago

Hmmmmm...Target LOL

51

u/AgentMintyHippo 17h ago

It's a trap!! Click "not applicable".

11

u/HearTheBluesACalling 6h ago

If there’s a comment box, put “your mistake is thinking I care about anything that happens at work.”

15

u/Amethyst-M2025 19h ago

I was never in a position to, as my job was office support. The boss would've just rolled his eyes at me and said "get back to work" or something like that.

8

u/flyinbrian420 17h ago

I applied there last fall and I’m pretty sure that was on the application. Idk what they expect I just do my job I’m not an activist

75

u/Primarycolors1 21h ago

Put zero. Take the job and do everything you can to cost them money while you look for a new job.

-43

u/Fun_Wrangler_7320 7h ago

That's unethical. I get that Target shouldn't be asking questions like this, but this is going too far. It's immoral.

43

u/Low-Discipline-8998 7h ago

People need to stop trying to be morally right when our rights are under attack.

-37

u/Fun_Wrangler_7320 7h ago

If you want to fight it, I'm all for it. But costing them money before slipping away to a new job is not going to accomplish ANYTHING of value. They will not change and our situation won't change. Do things the right way, or don't do anything at all.

28

u/Glitchboy 6h ago

WILL ANYONE THINK OF THE SHAREHOLDERS AND BILLIONAIRES?!? 😭😭😭😭

13

u/Shoddy-Equipment9321 6h ago

Awwwwe poor target 😪

10

u/CrashDamage55 5h ago

Immoral? HAHAHAHAHA

9

u/MalePatternBalding 6h ago

Man you really are the fun wrangler

1

u/Low-Discipline-8998 4h ago

Then what is the morally correct response?

0

u/Fun_Wrangler_7320 4h ago

A strike, or some form of public protest, for example. Causing them to lose money without actually protesting accomplishes nothing at all.

2

u/Low-Discipline-8998 3h ago

Hmm. Your opinion is interesting but just that, an opinion. You had an opportunity to share it without sounding like you think you’re better than others but you didn’t. Which is probably why you got so much backlash. I personally think it matters that the companies are losing money regardless. See how I’m disagreeing without insinuating that I am the moral compass for everyone?

Opinions are just that. Once again, living by someone else’s moral compass when your rights are at risk is foolish in my opinion.

1

u/Fun_Wrangler_7320 3h ago

Fine. But I'd like to point out that they won't take those losses themselves. They will raise the prices, hurting everyone else, including yourself. Target won't stop because they lost money. They will charge you and I and everyone else higher prices.

2

u/Beneficial_Monk_7340 2h ago

They won't charge me and many others because we're not shopping there anymore. Please believe actual boycotts do work as long as they are sustained. Doesn't mean a person can't go somewhere if they have to but people going somewhere because they have to isn't the business model any business wants. The prices will go up and we won't pay them. 🤷🏿‍♀️

1

u/Fun_Wrangler_7320 2h ago

But others do go there (many aren't in tune with politics to know), and other stores that you to go to have employees with the same incredibly selfish mindset as you.

1

u/Imaginary_Ghost_Girl 2h ago

That's neat, when I can get the exact same (or better) product elsewhere and not be bothered with shopping at the new Fascists R Us. They can raise prices all they want. It won't help them as they continue hemorrhaging profits because of the ongoing boycott. Or are you against boycotting, too, since it makes them lose money?

1

u/Fun_Wrangler_7320 2h ago

I'm not against them losing money. Just because it doesn't affect YOU doesn't mean it is ok. You are hurting other customers who don't know what's happening politically and still go there. Other stores that you buy from have employees with the same selfish mindset you have, raising your prices.

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23

u/danidandeliger 7h ago

Immoral?

Paying people less than a living wage in order to maximize profits?

Only scheduling people for part time so they don't have to pay for their health insurance?

Promoting Pride and Black History merch for years only to roll back DEI at the first opportunity?

Target is the immoral one here. I used to think like you than I realized that most corporations would utilize slave labor if it benefits their bottom line.

-4

u/Fun_Wrangler_7320 4h ago

You missed my point. I 100% agree with you that Target is being immoral. My point is that you don't fight evil with evil.

4

u/theedgeofoblivious 6h ago

Okay Mr. "registered 3 months ago"!

0

u/Fun_Wrangler_7320 4h ago

It's a throwaway. Your comment is entirely meaningless.

37

u/Historical_Oven7806 1d ago

Put more than 5.

4

u/Tasty_Lead_Paint 19h ago

I once had a job where I worked by myself, all my tasks came from my direct manager, and I never had to call or email anybody outside of my small team. One of my forced goals from corporate every year was how I would contribute to diversity and inclusion. I’m not sure what they wanted me to do it’s not like they would let me take on other projects to bring other people in on or hire people. But they still forced us all to have the same goal.

3

u/PlainThrills 9h ago

Not applicable, it’s target.

3

u/mrbobbilly 14h ago

Thats a new one

3

u/Undeterminedvariance 7h ago

Like… seriously or ironically or cummulatively?

3

u/SlipstreamSteve 5h ago

Because Target rolled back their DEI and they want to get a sense of who in their ranks might be a threat to their racist initiative

2

u/chelsiekayt 6h ago

Yeah, I'm definitely done going to target now.

2

u/Cwash415 6h ago

considering the amount of foot traffic they lost due to reverting DEI hiring ,im not suprised they asked this lol

2

u/Specific-Window-8587 6h ago

This to weed out actually people. Tarshit loves their robots.

2

u/Maleficent-Lecture13 4h ago

Because they cancelled there DEI

2

u/thusfarguitar 4h ago

Trumps fault

2

u/longhorn_baby 4h ago

I once filled out an application at a Waffle House in Houston where the last question on the application was, “do you know how to fight?”

4

u/InevitableSeat7228 18h ago

Weeds out those that would concentrate and distract other employees with DEI issues rather than organizing a union and unite employees for workers rights for all… A.k.A a perfect employee!!!!!

2

u/Bluevisser 10h ago

That's part of the application process from when the focus was DEI. All they did to appease the administration was say they were ending DEI initiatives. Nothing has actually ended. All our DEI stuff is still up in TSC, the DEI employee benefits and collaboration efforts are still active. Absolutely nothing changed.

2

u/Low-Discipline-8998 7h ago

Do you mind sharing a little more on that?

1

u/Imaginary_Ghost_Girl 2h ago

They're still cowards. Plenty of other businesses and organizations told Trump to shove it. They're just fine.

1

u/Bluevisser 2h ago

Not plenty, basically just Costco for the major corporations. 

1

u/Imaginary_Ghost_Girl 2h ago

Fair, on the major corporations aspect.

4

u/newtotech369 20h ago

Trump, sadly.

1

u/PizzaDeliveryBoy3000 17h ago

…and is this a trick question, is the question?

1

u/safely_beyond_redemp 7h ago

What's the right answer? Which answer is most likely to land you the job. Nobody cares about your actual belief system when you are trying to get a job, so to maximize job getting potential, which is the right answer? I find it scary that I do not know.

1

u/ComprehensiveLoss680 3h ago

Depends on how fast do you want your bills to be paid.

1

u/reddit_is_trash_2023 5h ago

That's a cringe question but I've had something similar before. As always with bs questions, give a bs answer

1

u/Noexcusesinmyworld 5h ago

Yes I think you should increase diversity by hiring me. I’m not the “average worker” who shows up everyday. On time. Or dresses nicely and in uniform. I don’t shower and I use poor language in front of the younger customers. I will quite literally always be under the influence of drugs and alcohol and steal from the registers.

However I try daily to include women in the workplace in my activities. Like, “bitch suck my cock” is something you’ll hear me say to make female employees included.

1

u/Confident_Warning_32 4h ago

These interview questions get dumber and dumber

1

u/Motor-Economics-4337 3h ago

I no longer answer questions that do not set with me related to race and gender.

1

u/R0enick27 2h ago

wth Target. Crazy how quickly they turned on DEI. Assholes.

1

u/BlacksmithRemote1175 2h ago

Looks like a trap lol

1

u/4x4play 2h ago

when i was a hiring manager there, diversity meant different types of hot women. i remember we had a limit on underage kids. the worst part was saying "Tell me about a time...." a thousand times a day.

1

u/ArkhamOriginsBatman 2h ago

1 billion. Don't know don't care. NEXT!

1

u/Feisty-Kitten17 1h ago

To muddy the waters when hiring? An irrelevant question for a minimum wage job. It isn’t up to non-management employees to make suggestions for the company. That’s why they hire the highly paid Ivy League grads - they’re supposed to be the “idea” people.

1

u/katgetsresets 1h ago

Are you applying for a in-store position?

1

u/Mission_Fail4123 1h ago

Cuz enough people ignore shit they shouldn’t. So no it’s not weird. They wanna know if people actually stand up for others or if they just let shit people be shit people. Other than it’s not weird and is standard just a weird way of wording. I’ve had questions asking me what the word Gypsy meant to me or what super power and why on an actual job application.

u/weremound 21m ago

I'm a Target team member. Target actually said they were CONSIDERING removing DEI, and retracted that statement pretty soon after. Way before the boycotts. But it ruined their reputation so bad that people don't realize it. Lol. Shareholders are apparently trying to sue Target because they didn't realize the sales would be down THAT bad.

Still happy the boycott happened not just because fuck you Target, but also because no one was in our store and it gave us plenty of time to catch up on behind work. This past week was so nice and quiet. Please keep boycotting

u/Gael4ce 0m ago

I would go with N/A. If asked, I was never in a kind of position where I had any authority or any kind over coworkers.

1

u/babybeewitched 12h ago

i applied in september and this was on it. i was honest and put a 0 and got the job 🤷‍♀️ everyone's reading into it too much, its just corporate filler questions that actual managers don't even care about

4

u/Interesting-Cup-1419 8h ago

Given the current reality in the US, unfortunately they’re not reading into it too much. Any DEI-focused federal grant money is being taken away and people have lost their jobs. In scientific research, there is a whole list of words that will get funding blocked, including really necessary words like “female” (but not “male.”) And places like Columbia University have given into all of Tr*mp’s demands in order to keep their federal funding. A question like this at a university could absolutely be used to take away someone’s job. In retail it doesn’t necessarily matter as much, but it also wouldn’t be surprising if a company made an effort to purge anyone involved in DEI in order to stay on the president’s good side.

0

u/Genetics-13 20h ago

Put NA and then if asked “it was a confusing question because I don’t normally see race”

0

u/[deleted] 1d ago

[deleted]

0

u/[deleted] 15h ago

[deleted]

4

u/Rejomaj 11h ago

Because people need to eat????

0

u/Moist-Caregiver-2000 7h ago

The answer is Not Applicable. Don't get involved, you don't want to know, it ruined the video game industry!

-8

u/No_Size4714 18h ago

As someone who used to work at target, they push that shit hard and i mean really hard.

2

u/Didact67 4h ago

Not anymore.

-2

u/Sad-Relative-1291 7h ago

Political correctness